Earlier this week, Democratic presidential candidate Martin O’Malley got booed when, speaking at the Netroots Nation conference, he responded to a group of #BlackLivesMatter activists by telling them that “all lives matter.” He was later forced to apologize.

O’Malley isn’t the first person to fail to understand why “all lives matter” is a tone-deaf rallying cry for a national politician in 2015. Hillary Clinton did the same thing earlier this year, though she has since corrected herself. And lots of white people have expressed confusion about why it’s controversial to broaden the #BlackLivesMatter movement to include people of all races.

The best explanation we’ve seen so far comes from Reddit, of all places. Earlier this week, in an “Explain Like I’m 5” thread, user GeekAesthete explained, clearly and succinctly, why changing #BlackLivesMatter to #AllLivesMatter is an act of erasure that makes lots of people cringe.

“It can be very difficult to explain this alternate reality to someone who does not have mental illness. Please try to understand that rational thinking will not work because logic literally doesn’t exist in the universe we currently inhabit.”

I found this list to be very good. A quick, accessible resource for anyone looking to support a loved one living with depression. Full list is HERE

These powerful images are extremely important. As one woman mentions in the short video at the bottom of the page, it’s one thing to hear a statistic but it’s another to be faced with an image. I like that each veteran had choice over how they wanted their images to look. They are so full of emotion and truth, and I am honoured by their vulnerability and strength. I feel that this conversation is important not just for those serving in the armed forces, but for police, firefighters and other first responders, as well as survivors of all forms of abuse and other traumas. It is important to shed a light on PTSD and to support those suffering. Part of that starts with education and really listening when folks share their experiences.

Another great piece detailing ways to work as an ally (VERB) with communities in which you have privilege.

“Fact: you are the children and grandchildren of oppressed people who seen our lands as means to escape their own oppressive imperialistic leaders. They came and they used racism and religion as the catalyst for the wholesale slaughter of the native peoples. There is a responsibility in this knowledge to do something. More than acknowledgement and more than rallies or marches. Real tangible ways to create meaningful relationships to us and to the land is what the next step in our struggle is.”

This is a great list of some of the issues surrounding the ally industrial complex and claiming ally as an identity. Ally is a VERB. You must be allying, in action, and in ways that are called for my the community you are seeking to ‘help’.

This is such an incredible, relevant list.
“We should not put the onus on survivors to increase conviction rates when there are so many other things preventing rapists from being held accountable for their actions.”